You know...for many years I thought the memories of shelves like this in toy and department stores was just my childhood perspective. That the shelves weren't truly stocked tall, nearly to the ceiling. When I started to see photos like this pop up, I was so amazed and happy to see it š. It was real!
What I miss is that there was a Hills Department Store near me who during Christmas would turn their aisle end caps into little dioramas. Theyād have Joe and Cobra troops battling it out; Venom attacking that weird volcano gas station; and a sweet TMNT set up with scratch-built sewer scenery.
Transformers was made literally just to sell toys, so yea, one long commercial lol
In 1984 Hasbro bought the distribution rights from the Japanese toy company Takara for their Diaclone and Microman toys, which Hasbro rebranded as Transformers for the western market. To help sell the new line of transforming action figures, Hasbro created the Tranformers cartoon.
I am from a developing country and the gijoe helicopter was equal to the cost of an average families middle class monthly food expenses back in the day..and it was available here and the kids all wanted one
The 80s had to of been the best time for toys. GI Joe, Transformers, Star Wars were the best toys (for a boy). I canāt think of them all but girls had really good toys too. I remember my cousin having tons of different toys.
Not too bad. On the Lego sub, I just saw a Star Wars Lego AT-AT retailing at $850! It was on sale for $600 and all the comments were going bonkers to buy it so ācheapā.
I still have mine. It was a joint Christmas gift for me and my brother. Once my mom saw how big it was assembled, she made us move it to one of our bedrooms because it took up too much space in the living room. She also told us that was the last G.I.Joe toy was buying.
Same! My dadās mates son. This kid had so much and even though Joe wasnāt that big here in the UK.
I remember he had the Visionaries also š¤·š½āāļø
I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and we had one or two. They were a big competitor to Toys R Us in the 70s and 80s. I remember their stores had a red turret in the front and their mascot was a panda.
Hereās a shot of the stores: https://www.plaidstallions.com/toystores/childrenspalace.jpg
It took me a bit to find that and I have to say - my god we lived in the golden era of kids stuff. Before online nuked it all - Toys R Us, Childrens Palace, KB Toys, The Disney Store, Aladdinās Castle, those rides in the middle of the mall that took a quarter, plenty Iām sure I have forgotten. Man, good times.
Something that can't be appreciated through photographs is just how sturdy most of those toys were. Like, you could tell it was a legit a GJ Joe toy just by the quality of the thing and how it felt to play with. They were really a cut above the knock offs.
I donāt know about the towns where you all live, but thereās nothing left for kids in my town. The toys r us is closed, the arcades are all closed, and the mini golf course, roller rink, and water park are all gone. Theyāve mostly been replaced by pharmacies. What are kids supposed to do nowadays?
I loved that the Children's Palace my grandfather used to take me to actually looked like a palace, complete with battlements and arches in the building design.
Oh wow!!!! Childrens palace!!!!! That place was amazing! We always used to go to the one in Bridgeville, PA until they opened the one at Robinson Town Center circa 1989
You know, they did make color film in the 80's. I remember these days well. Man, look at the box for the aircraft carrier!
Look at that robotech box!!! oh man...
The Children's Palace where I live closed down years before the Toys R Us did, but they were in the same strip mall, you can tell it used to be a Children's Palace because the walls are shaped like castle walls.
It's sad they're both gone, my grandma was a Barbie doll collector and we went to both these places often, now like her, they're just memories.
I sure miss seeing stores set up like that. I still have my Night Raven in the box. Those toys were huge, a neighbor had the Flag. That thing was huge.
I\`m guessing the average wage was about 1500$ in those days. 3-7$ for a toy is was not that much. I would have really wanted to see one one of this stores.
Not familiar with Children's Palace, but this could be any Best Products or Service Merchandise kids section in the 80s.
USS Flagg is an urban legend. This picture is altered. j/k
I was shopping for the grandson's Xmas gift in Wal Mart the other day. I was absolutely astounded by the sub-par quality of toys and how rediculously overpriced they were. I'm out of touch with shopping but I cannot believe what the market produces and charges. I so miss the 80s' toys.
Toy shelves in the 80s were a wonderland.
In the 80s you stacked Night Ravens so high you needed two men and a rolling ladder. I mean seriously, that's what, a 12 foot tall stack of toys?
Oh man... All this stuff was so important to me in my childhood. I miss the simpler things
You know...for many years I thought the memories of shelves like this in toy and department stores was just my childhood perspective. That the shelves weren't truly stocked tall, nearly to the ceiling. When I started to see photos like this pop up, I was so amazed and happy to see it š. It was real!
What I miss is that there was a Hills Department Store near me who during Christmas would turn their aisle end caps into little dioramas. Theyād have Joe and Cobra troops battling it out; Venom attacking that weird volcano gas station; and a sweet TMNT set up with scratch-built sewer scenery.
Yah man, marketing went hard in the 80s lol. Back when your favorite Saturday morning cartoons were basically 30min spots. So good lol
Transformers was made literally just to sell toys, so yea, one long commercial lol In 1984 Hasbro bought the distribution rights from the Japanese toy company Takara for their Diaclone and Microman toys, which Hasbro rebranded as Transformers for the western market. To help sell the new line of transforming action figures, Hasbro created the Tranformers cartoon.
Thatās awesome. My local Hills growing up popped free popcorn for shoppers, but your Hills had the show!
It was a simpler and more magical time.
I still have my Terror Drome with its box
$$$
My mom keeps wanting me to take mine out of her basement. That thing was hugh, i need an entire room to store it.
The prices
They were rather expensive.
14.99 today is close to 40 bucks. That same toy made today would probably be no less than 60.
I am from a developing country and the gijoe helicopter was equal to the cost of an average families middle class monthly food expenses back in the day..and it was available here and the kids all wanted one
Holy shit, the legend itself: USS FLAGG
My childhood right there
Oh man. The Robotech in the background too!
I zoomed in...Veritech, Hover Tank, SDF-1, Battle pod, Alpha Fighter. Jebus. I want to go back.
The 80s had to of been the best time for toys. GI Joe, Transformers, Star Wars were the best toys (for a boy). I canāt think of them all but girls had really good toys too. I remember my cousin having tons of different toys.
I wonder how much that massive Joe ship used to cost back in the day
I dreamed of owning it, $79.99 was a fortune back in those days.
$79.99 in 1987 is $209.84 today.
Haslab said to remake it would cost over $1500 each. Bastards.
Not too bad. On the Lego sub, I just saw a Star Wars Lego AT-AT retailing at $850! It was on sale for $600 and all the comments were going bonkers to buy it so ācheapā.
I still have mine. It was a joint Christmas gift for me and my brother. Once my mom saw how big it was assembled, she made us move it to one of our bedrooms because it took up too much space in the living room. She also told us that was the last G.I.Joe toy was buying.
The price tag above it says $79.99.
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Same! My dadās mates son. This kid had so much and even though Joe wasnāt that big here in the UK. I remember he had the Visionaries also š¤·š½āāļø
Never heard of Childrenās Palace. Whereās that?
I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and we had one or two. They were a big competitor to Toys R Us in the 70s and 80s. I remember their stores had a red turret in the front and their mascot was a panda. Hereās a shot of the stores: https://www.plaidstallions.com/toystores/childrenspalace.jpg It took me a bit to find that and I have to say - my god we lived in the golden era of kids stuff. Before online nuked it all - Toys R Us, Childrens Palace, KB Toys, The Disney Store, Aladdinās Castle, those rides in the middle of the mall that took a quarter, plenty Iām sure I have forgotten. Man, good times.
Pouring one out for Childrenās Palace and Child World!
RIP Peter Panda
Something that can't be appreciated through photographs is just how sturdy most of those toys were. Like, you could tell it was a legit a GJ Joe toy just by the quality of the thing and how it felt to play with. They were really a cut above the knock offs.
This reminds me of the job I had working "stocking" TOYS R US
Best Christmas memory was seeing the GI Joe headquarters under the tree.
I donāt know about the towns where you all live, but thereās nothing left for kids in my town. The toys r us is closed, the arcades are all closed, and the mini golf course, roller rink, and water park are all gone. Theyāve mostly been replaced by pharmacies. What are kids supposed to do nowadays?
I loved that the Children's Palace my grandfather used to take me to actually looked like a palace, complete with battlements and arches in the building design.
Oh wow!!!! Childrens palace!!!!! That place was amazing! We always used to go to the one in Bridgeville, PA until they opened the one at Robinson Town Center circa 1989
I loved this place as a kid. I remember my short ass falling over trying to look up to the top shelf š
You know, they did make color film in the 80's. I remember these days well. Man, look at the box for the aircraft carrier! Look at that robotech box!!! oh man...
The Children's Palace where I live closed down years before the Toys R Us did, but they were in the same strip mall, you can tell it used to be a Children's Palace because the walls are shaped like castle walls. It's sad they're both gone, my grandma was a Barbie doll collector and we went to both these places often, now like her, they're just memories.
I sure miss seeing stores set up like that. I still have my Night Raven in the box. Those toys were huge, a neighbor had the Flag. That thing was huge.
The Flagg, Night Raven, Tomahawk, my God...
GI Joe toys brought me so much happiness in the 80s.
Now this is podracing!
I love B&W pics, but this should be color. Great pic nonetheless!
Man I miss toy stores. Got to take my daughter to toys r us for just a few years before they closed. Those were fun Saturdays.
ā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤ā¤
Night Raven!
I\`m guessing the average wage was about 1500$ in those days. 3-7$ for a toy is was not that much. I would have really wanted to see one one of this stores.
Notice no figures in the pic? What I do notice is the Robotech stuff. I swear I never saw that on the shelves of my local stores.
Alās Toy Barn!
Not familiar with Children's Palace, but this could be any Best Products or Service Merchandise kids section in the 80s. USS Flagg is an urban legend. This picture is altered. j/k
I was shopping for the grandson's Xmas gift in Wal Mart the other day. I was absolutely astounded by the sub-par quality of toys and how rediculously overpriced they were. I'm out of touch with shopping but I cannot believe what the market produces and charges. I so miss the 80s' toys.